Kota Kinabalu: The State Government has introduced two new initiatives under the Sabah First agenda to empower local companies and ease operational costs for logistics players, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick (pic).
Ewon, who is also Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister, said the first initiative offers a special industrial land lease scheme allowing local firms at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) to pay 30-year lease fees annually instead of the mandatory lump sum within two years.
To further support local expansion, the ministry will partner with the Credit Guarantee Corporation (CGC) to assist domestic firms seeking capital to construct factories or purchase industrial machinery.
The second initiative introduces reduced container storage charges at the Sepanggar Bay Container Port effective Sept 7, extending the initial free storage period from three to four days alongside lowered rates for subsequent days to mitigate port congestion while expansion works reach 65 per cent completion.
The Sabah Ports Authority has also been directed to dispose of containers exceeding 21 days under its enactment powers, while KKIP will provide dedicated holding parking bays for container trailers awaiting port clearance.
